The Territorial Divisions, 1914-1918Stirling, John
History
The Territorial Divisions, 1914-1918
Stirling, John
World War, 1914-1918 -- Regimental histories -- Great Britain
The Division was in the line on 9th and 10th October during the
“Battle of Cambrai, 1918,” when rapid progress was made until they
were stopped at Riquerval Wood. They were again employed in the
Battle of the Selle River, 17th-25th October, see paragraphs 37 and
46 of the despatch.
In his _Breaking the Hindenburg Line_, Major Priestley gives detailed
accounts of the Battle of Ramicourt, 3rd October, and the Battle
of Andigny or Riquerval, a phase of the Battle of the Selle, 17th
and 18th October. He points out that on the 3rd, the 46th not only
took Ramicourt but captured and cleared Montbrehain to the east
of it, 1000 prisoners being taken in the latter place; but, in
consequence of the Division on the left of the 46th having been held
up, the latter had to withdraw from Montbrehain, establishing their
line to the west of it. He also mentions that both on the 3rd and
17th/18th October, as well as in the preliminary actions between
these dates, the enemy’s resistance was much more stubborn than at
Bellenglise, where the crossing of the canal had probably upset all
his calculations and temporarily knocked the heart out of him.
The IX. Corps took part in the “Battle of the Sambre,” 4th November,
and continued to move forward till the 10th November. The 46th
Division, which had been out at rest from 18th October till 1st
November, on the night of the 4th relieved brigades of the 1st and
32nd Divisions and continued to press and pursue the enemy. On the
evening of the 6th they entered Cartignies and on the 7th, in face of
resistance, crossed the Petite Helpe. On the 8th they had crossed the
La Capelle-Avesnes road and when the Armistice came the Division was
east of Sains.
The 1/5th South Staffordshire was selected for the Army of the
Rhine.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] _Breaking the Hindenburg Line. The Story of the 46th (North
Midland) Division_, by Major Priestley. London. Fisher Unwin.
47TH (LONDON) DIVISION, FORMERLY 2ND LONDON. FIRST LINE
The 47th Division went to France in March 1915, and a reference
to its being inspected by Sir John French will be found under the
46th. In his despatch of 15th June, 1915, Sir John French mentioned
that the First Army made an effort to advance its line in the Neuve
Chapelle-Festubert district during May, the Battle of Festubert,
and said, paragraph 5: “On 24th and 25th May the 47th Division (2nd
London Territorial) succeeded in taking some more of the enemy’s
trenches, and in making good the ground gained to the east and
north.” Various writers say that in this, the Division’s first big
battle, they made a very fine advance and held the ground gained
against many counter-attacks, during the succeeding days.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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